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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Feb 2006 : 15:23:09
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I have been reading with amusement all the posts regarding racism in Europe so I thought I would ask the question what people think about racism in Gambia. In my opinion the biggest racists in the country are ex pats and in particular British people that have settled there. The superiority complex among most (not all) Brits leaves me sick to the core and is one reason why I would find it difficult to live there. Any comments?
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2006 : 15:38:15
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I am sure workers at the coast that come into contact with tourists have to suffer lots of racism. At the hotel I stay at the staff say to me that the Germans and Dutch are the worst and also white south africans........
They say in general the english treat them OK.
The whole ex pat scene whatever country it is in seems to be extremely arrogant to me...... Brits living abroad (in general) tend to cling together and not mix.
If I was going to live in Gambia for any length of time I would like to live in a Gambian community NOT in little england!!
If you want to live in Gambia how about an apartment in Serrekunda? Its lively, has loads of facilities and definately isnt expat territory! |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2006 : 22:28:13
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Iīve been wondering myself for a long time why some racists move to 3rd world countries?
Is it because they want to play master, maybe they have a need to live out their superior, sadist "Inner massa" fantasy, and find Africa, Asia a good place to do that?
Those people should be deported back to Europe where they belong, without hesitation.
There are also many racists who are in interracial relationships, for some sick reasons. |
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 00:13:10
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I think you are right Babylon about the "inner superiority" requirement.Maybe its because they find it hard to establish themselves in this way at home??. A lot of the ex pat Brit community that I have met in Gambia seem to have had some problems at home. I have witnessed so many examples of blatant racism towards Gambians that it really makes me sick and embarrassed to be a Toubab. Then again, dare I say it here, I have also seen a lot of Gambians licking the ex pats asses.
As for your comments Gambiabev
a) I wasnt referring to the tourists - have another read of my post
b) I really couldnt care where you would want to live IF you went to Gambia. Frankly I dont think you would survive living "amongst the locals"
c) Serrekunda would not be my choice and I dont recall mentioning my desire to live in The Gambia |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 01:29:48
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Dave, I also think many of them have had some sort of problems in their own country.
For example: itīs a known fact that many criminals from Nordic countries escape the law and seek new homes in places like Thailand.
Why not in Africa too?
Iīve seen some really weird, scary looking toubabs living in Africa, now thinking they are the king of the world.
They are rude, donīt respect the culture or the people in that country but act very selfish, itīs all ME ME ME!!!
And still they get all the attention there (to my surprise) that they probably didnīt get at home.
Yet they are never satisfied with life. Itīs sick.
I may be wrong or generalizing, but I really donīt think this is unusual. But of course not all toubabs are like this. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 04:21:11
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You said that the ex pat thng would be something that would put you off living in Gambia......I thought Serrekunda would be a way round that as you would be in a REAL town rather than an ex pat world.
There are a couple of villages I go to where I could imagine living....not FOREVER...but for extended periods.....Its what I am hoping to do after my daughter leaves home. Why do you think I wouldnt survive? |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 12:10:15
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Babylon and dave, you are absolutely right. In Central/South America and the Carribbean, you find a lot of (white) Americans, in Gambia mostly British; Germans like to go to Kenya, Thailand or Namibia. The rush from Germany, Switzerland and Austria to Kenya reached a peak after the release of the book 'The White Massai', an incredibly stupid concoction by Swiss part-time-expat Corinne Hofmann. In September 2005, the film - with Jacky Ido from Burkina Faso playing Hofmann's Samburu husband - was a box office record and its release on DVD in March 2006 probably will start the hype anew. I hope they spare(d) Sweden and UK that rubbish.
As I read in a German newspaper recently, among German criminals it is now fashionable to go to the Dominican Republic. And there is an increasing number of German paupers who discover they can have a much more comfortable life for their little money when they stay in Gambia. The majority of these people comes from Eastern Germany, where the worst racists are living... And don't forget all the junkies from various 'white' countries who find cheap drugs in the so-called '3rd World'. This started in India, Nepal and Thailand in the 70ies.
Who would deny that we learn about our 'superiority' from our early childhood - even at school? Just look at the word '3rd World' - it labels all non-white countries as problematic, undeveloped, miserable and so on, while the West is 'developing' Mother Earth to death. No wonder certain people try to reverse the feeling of being inferior in their own society into a feeling of superiority, which, after all they learned, must be the 'right' feeling?
Maybe Europe and the USA with their restrictive immigration laws should invest a few thoughts on the question what kind of people we are 'exporting' to poorer countries... |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 13:53:08
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Just as I thought  , thanks for the good info Serenata. |
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 15:34:12
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| Interesting comments Serenata, thanks for the contribution. Gambiabev......you wouldnt survive because you havent yet discovered the "real" Gambia, the culture and whats really going on there.You need to visit many more times before that will happen....if it ever does |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 16:10:31
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Not sure of the number of criminals on the run. I think Gambia and the UK have an extradition arrangement anyway so it'd be a stupid place to try to avoid the law.
No, when I think of the Europeans I know who live in Gambia, there's a mixture of those who genuinely just love Gambia, want to add to local communities and are happy that they can get a nice house cheaply (by standards in their home country), the dispossessed, who quite clearly bring their own troubles with them, and the type who want to be the 'big I am'. These people have been middle/low in the European social ranks and can now Lord It because their money goes a long way. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 19:23:52
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| Sorry, Formby, I didn't mean all expats are of the mentioned type - how could I??!! |
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 20:19:05
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| Nor did I mean "all" ex pats Formby. It just seems that I meet a disproportionate number of Brits who want to be the "big cheese" in town. Mind you Ive noticed how most Gambians tend to lick their asses......no wonder they say money talks!!! |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2006 : 20:28:46
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| I know! |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2006 : 22:55:38
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| Judging by the last 2 posts it would appear that this topic has exhausted its dignified arguement,shame. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2006 : 03:27:34
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
Judging by the last 2 posts it would appear that this topic has exhausted its dignified arguement,shame.
okay, i agree. some Gambians still have issues due to colonilization, and that is why some act the way they do. equating it to licking ass, however, is nothing but an insult to all gambians. at the end of the day, i feel that white people in general are a very insecure people. pure evidence is that they've never been secure with what they have but always have to get someone else's or talk down to other races. coming here and saying nonsense like "licking asses" does nothing to disprove my theory. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2006 : 08:25:06
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Kassama most Gambians I have met in Gambia have been quietly proud, kind and generous, always sharing what little they have. I have alot of respect for that as it is exactly how I was bought up in my working class english family.
Of course, some people out of desperation will do desperate things such as prostitution or creeping round the money man ( I wont use the awful expression others have used). But this is the same the world over and more a reflection on human nature than on Gambian society.
The world would be a better place if we ALL looked past the colour of the skin, the religion of a person, and the money in the pocket. Face to face is this a good person, then fine...lets be friends.....look at the 'soul'......what else matters???
This is my philosophy and I HOPE that this is what has made me accepted into many Gambian compounds as a friend.
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